Solar-powered charging umbrella with USB ports
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- providing solar charging components for an umbrella comprising a shaft and umbrella shade, wherein the umbrella shade will be coupled between a fastener and the shaft, and the solar charging components comprise a cap and struts and battery housing with charging ports;
providing the cap to be coupled between the fastener and the umbrella shade, the cap comprising a cap opening and at least a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion, wherein the fastener couples to a bolt of the shaft that passes through the cap opening;
providing a first strut, comprising first and second ends, a third hinge portion at the first end, and between the first and second ends is a first upper strut portion to which a first solar panel is coupled, wherein the third hinge portion is coupled to the first hinge portion of the cap to form a first strut hinge;
providing a second strut, comprising third and fourth ends, a fourth hinge portion at third end, and between the third and fourth ends is a second upper strut portion to which a second solar panel is coupled, wherein the fourth hinge portion is coupled to the second hinge portion of the cap to form a second strut hinge,the umbrella comprises an open position during which the umbrella shade is extended into a position away from the shaft and a closed position during which the umbrella shade is folded into a position closer to the shaft,when changing the umbrella from the closed to the open position, the umbrella shade pushes against a bottom of the struts while the umbrella shade is extended, causing the struts to rotate via the first and second strut hinges in a first turn direction, so that an angle between a top of the first strut and a top of the cap increases from a first angle in the closed position to a second angle in the open position, and the second angle is greater than the first angle, andwhen changing the umbrella from the open to the closed position, the bottom of the struts rest against the umbrella shade while the umbrella is folded, causing the struts to rotate via the first and second strut hinges in a second turn direction, so that the angle between the top of the first strut and the top of the cap decreases from the second angle to the first angle, and the second turn direction is opposite of the first turn direction; and
providing the battery housing comprising a battery housing hole through which the shaft of the umbrella passes through, wherein the battery housing houses a rechargeable battery, battery charging circuit, and first and second charging ports.
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Abstract
A solar-powered umbrella has a cap structure that is connected by hinges to struts. The struts are relatively rigid and positioned above the umbrella shade and house solar panels. When the umbrella is opened and closed, the struts rotate via the hinges from an open to closed position. When the solar panels are exposed to the sun, light is converted to electrical energy to charge a rechargeable battery. The battery supplies power to one or more USB ports. A user can recharge an electronic device (e.g., smartphone or tablet computer) by connecting to a port of the umbrella using a cable.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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providing solar charging components for an umbrella comprising a shaft and umbrella shade, wherein the umbrella shade will be coupled between a fastener and the shaft, and the solar charging components comprise a cap and struts and battery housing with charging ports; providing the cap to be coupled between the fastener and the umbrella shade, the cap comprising a cap opening and at least a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion, wherein the fastener couples to a bolt of the shaft that passes through the cap opening; providing a first strut, comprising first and second ends, a third hinge portion at the first end, and between the first and second ends is a first upper strut portion to which a first solar panel is coupled, wherein the third hinge portion is coupled to the first hinge portion of the cap to form a first strut hinge; providing a second strut, comprising third and fourth ends, a fourth hinge portion at third end, and between the third and fourth ends is a second upper strut portion to which a second solar panel is coupled, wherein the fourth hinge portion is coupled to the second hinge portion of the cap to form a second strut hinge, the umbrella comprises an open position during which the umbrella shade is extended into a position away from the shaft and a closed position during which the umbrella shade is folded into a position closer to the shaft, when changing the umbrella from the closed to the open position, the umbrella shade pushes against a bottom of the struts while the umbrella shade is extended, causing the struts to rotate via the first and second strut hinges in a first turn direction, so that an angle between a top of the first strut and a top of the cap increases from a first angle in the closed position to a second angle in the open position, and the second angle is greater than the first angle, and when changing the umbrella from the open to the closed position, the bottom of the struts rest against the umbrella shade while the umbrella is folded, causing the struts to rotate via the first and second strut hinges in a second turn direction, so that the angle between the top of the first strut and the top of the cap decreases from the second angle to the first angle, and the second turn direction is opposite of the first turn direction; and providing the battery housing comprising a battery housing hole through which the shaft of the umbrella passes through, wherein the battery housing houses a rechargeable battery, battery charging circuit, and first and second charging ports. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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providing solar charging components for an umbrella comprising a shaft and umbrella shade, wherein the umbrella shade will be coupled between a fastener and the shaft, and the solar charging components include a cap and struts and battery housing with charging ports and a plurality of electrical wires; providing the cap to be coupled between the fastener and the umbrella shade, the cap comprising a cap opening and at least a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion, wherein the fastener couples to a bolt of the shaft that passes through the cap opening; providing a first strut, comprising first and second ends, a third hinge portion at the first end, and between the first and second ends is a first upper strut portion to which a first solar panel is coupled, wherein the third hinge portion is coupled to the first hinge portion of the cap to form a first strut hinge; providing a second strut, comprising third and fourth ends, a fourth hinge portion at third end, and between the third and fourth ends is a second upper strut portion to which a second solar panel is coupled, wherein the fourth hinge portion is coupled to the second hinge portion of the cap to form a second strut hinge, the umbrella comprises an open position during which the umbrella shade is extended into a position away from the shaft and a closed position during which the umbrella shade is folded into a position closer to the shaft, when changing the umbrella from the closed to the open position, the umbrella shade pushes against a bottom of the struts while the umbrella shade is extended, causing the struts to rotate via the first and second strut hinges in a first turn direction, so that an angle between a top of the first strut and a top of the cap increases from a first angle in the closed position to a second angle in the open position, and the second angle is greater than the first angle, and when changing the umbrella from the open to the closed position, the bottom of the struts rest against the umbrella shade while the umbrella is folded, causing the struts to rotate via the first and second strut hinges in a second turn direction, so that the angle between the top of the first strut and the top of the cap decreases from the second angle to the first angle, and the second turn direction is opposite of the first turn direction; providing the battery housing, wherein the battery housing comprises a battery housing hole through which the shaft of the umbrella passes through; providing a rechargeable battery, enclosed by the battery housing; providing a battery charging circuit, enclosed by the battery housing, wherein the battery charging circuit is coupled to the rechargeable battery; providing the plurality of electrical wires, coupling the first and second solar panels to the battery charging circuit, wherein the battery charging circuit can charge the rechargeable battery using solar power received from the first and second solar panels; and providing first and second charging ports, coupled to the rechargeable battery. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification